Rhein, an inhibitor of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis.

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Liu Q, Zhang XL, Tao RY, Niu YJ, Chen XG, Tian JY, Ye F

Rhein, an inhibitor of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis.

J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2011 Aug;13(8):714-23. doi: 10.1080/10286020.2011.586341.

PubMed ID
21751839 [ View in PubMed
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Abstract

Rhein (RH), a compound purified from Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, has been used to alleviate liver and kidney damage. It is found that RH inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes induced by differentiation medium in a time- and dose-dependent manner. It was revealed that RH downregulated the expression of adipogenesis-specific transcription factors PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha, as well as their upstream regulator, C/EBPbeta. Furthermore, the PPARgamma target genes that are involved in adipocyte differentiation, such as CD36, aP2, acyl CoA oxidase, uncoupled protein 2, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase, were reduced after to RH. In addition, high-fat diet-induced weight gain and adiposity were reversed by RH in C57BL/6 mice. Consistent with the cells' results, RH downregulated the mRNA levels of PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha, and their downstream target genes in C57BL/6 mice. Taken together, adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis were inhibited by RH in cultured cells and in rodent models of obesity. The evidence implied that RH was a potential candidate for preventing metabolic disorders.

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